Family Update

Things are still going just fine here in Iowa. The weather is cooling down and some of the trees are starting to turn yellow and red. We booked our flight back home for Christmas so we should be home from December 17th to January 3rd, I think. Ethan and Noah still aren't crawling, but they sit up pretty darn well. Hmm, what else? The ward here is great. They only have like three inactive families in the whole ward, and their visiting and home teaching is like 100% every month. I've made a few friends already and of course Joe already made like 12 friends too, so we usually don't have to sit around on the weekends. Joe is doing really well in school. Although he does get pretty busy and pretty stressed, he still seems to find time for me and the boys. He loves to show off his scooter to all of his classmates, and there are a few that are considering getting their own. This is a pretty boring post, but at least its something. I know you guys get really busy, but I still hope to hear more about what is going on back home. Usually when I call mom, she only has a few minutes to talk so I don't get to hear much about whats going on. Alex, you started volleyball? I'm so proud of you, I wish I could be there to play around with you. Addie, I hear all about what a great helper you are with your little brothers. I'll bet you are going to do such a great job teaching them how to play games and read and write. I miss you all so much! Hunter, Ashlee and Haylee: what has been happening in your lives? What about Mason and Jaden? Are they talking very much or playing together? Justin and Bud, how is business? Britt, I hope Austen get over his cold soon, and I hope that you find the perfect little (or big) home in just the right place. Josh and Red, I hope that you are able to find time for each other amid your busy schedules. I love you all!
Jess

No Bull

A once in a life time meeting. After spending twenty years & countless hours at the bog holes, in Cache Valley, it finally happened. Lets start at the beginning. Justin has an archery Elk tag. And in my younger days, I hunted Elk with my dad for over twenty years in the same spot some sixteen miles north of the Hardware ranch. In those twenty years, if memory serves, we bagged four bulls, missed two and drank three vats of beer. However, Justin had never been up there, and I have only made the trip once in the past thirty years, but it’s just like riding a bike. We got lost three times before finding camp at about 11:00 P.M. After a restful night sleep, for me, Justin took off at around 5:00 A.M., who KNOWS why, anyway, he came back to get me, and we both traveled to the bog holes, after secluding ourselves some 70 Yards away in the brush, I told Just " lets give it an hour and see what happens”. About 40 minutes later a huge 5 point bull Elk appeared through the brush, and lumbered toward the bog holes, where he lay down, and began to waller in the mud. We watched this magnificent creature for well over 10 minutes. At one point he even got out of the mud, walked over to some grass and lay down again almost like he was drying himself, only to return to the pot holes and lay down again. When he finally got cooled down enough, the elk came out of the bog holes and headed straight for our position, we didn't move a muscle as that grand animal strolled directly at us. Finally at no more than 10 feet away and still coming, I raised my hand and took off my cap. The Bull immediately stopped, and then bolted. He left at a somewhat faster pace. I have never seen that grand of a sight in my whole life, oh by the way Justin had a spike tag.